Nudo plunges further into abyss
Self-appointed National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) secretary-general Josef Kauandenge has implicated his predecessor, Meundju Jahanika, in a number of irregularities, which allegedly contributed to the party's financial troubles.
According to Kauandenge, who criticised his suspension by party president Asser Mbai last week, Jahanika linked the party's official bank account to his personal account and withdrew N$30 000, allegedly for personal use.
He also accused Jahanika of allowing payments of N$5 000 per day to a party staff member, which totalled N$220 000.
“These are the transgressions of Mr Jahanika that warranted his suspension and nothing was done because both the former president and former deputy secretary Mr Vetaruhe Kandorozu were protecting him. Until this day we don't know whether this money was repaid or not. It pains us that the boldness of Mr Asser Mbai to suspend leaders was lacking for all these two years, as the first person he should have suspended was none other than the former secretary-general Meundju Jahanika,” Kauandenge said.
He also accused Jahanika of having entered into an agreement with a certain Mr Kapukire to buy a house that would have been used as a party headquarters. Kauandenge said Jahanika paid Kapukire an amount of N$270 000 without any due diligence having been done.
The house is still not registered in the party's name.
Jahanika, however, strongly denied these allegations and said he did nothing wrong or illegal.
He also invited Kauandenge to open a case with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) but cautioned that he would have to pay when Jahanika's name is cleared.
“In the case of the N$30 000, the bank official mistakenly linked my personal account to all the accounts to which I was a signatory. It was during the December holidays and I withdrew and later realised there was a mistake. I informed the party treasurer and he wrote to the bank. After a forensic investigation the bank refunded the party, because it was their mistake,” Jahanika said.
He also blamed the bank for the overpayment to the party staff member, saying the instruction was that she be paid N$5 400 on the 27th of each month. However, the bank erroneously paid her that amount daily.
The party has been plunged into a tug-of-war leadership tussle.
Two opposing factions have resorted to mudslinging since the party's third elective congress ended in chaos a fortnight ago.
During the chaos, a grouping that includes Kauandenge declared themselves the legitimate leadership of the party, while the former leadership led by Mbai insist they are still in control.
Mbai suspended the supposed new leadership last week, who in turn recalled him from the National Assembly.
JEMIMA BEUKES
According to Kauandenge, who criticised his suspension by party president Asser Mbai last week, Jahanika linked the party's official bank account to his personal account and withdrew N$30 000, allegedly for personal use.
He also accused Jahanika of allowing payments of N$5 000 per day to a party staff member, which totalled N$220 000.
“These are the transgressions of Mr Jahanika that warranted his suspension and nothing was done because both the former president and former deputy secretary Mr Vetaruhe Kandorozu were protecting him. Until this day we don't know whether this money was repaid or not. It pains us that the boldness of Mr Asser Mbai to suspend leaders was lacking for all these two years, as the first person he should have suspended was none other than the former secretary-general Meundju Jahanika,” Kauandenge said.
He also accused Jahanika of having entered into an agreement with a certain Mr Kapukire to buy a house that would have been used as a party headquarters. Kauandenge said Jahanika paid Kapukire an amount of N$270 000 without any due diligence having been done.
The house is still not registered in the party's name.
Jahanika, however, strongly denied these allegations and said he did nothing wrong or illegal.
He also invited Kauandenge to open a case with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) but cautioned that he would have to pay when Jahanika's name is cleared.
“In the case of the N$30 000, the bank official mistakenly linked my personal account to all the accounts to which I was a signatory. It was during the December holidays and I withdrew and later realised there was a mistake. I informed the party treasurer and he wrote to the bank. After a forensic investigation the bank refunded the party, because it was their mistake,” Jahanika said.
He also blamed the bank for the overpayment to the party staff member, saying the instruction was that she be paid N$5 400 on the 27th of each month. However, the bank erroneously paid her that amount daily.
The party has been plunged into a tug-of-war leadership tussle.
Two opposing factions have resorted to mudslinging since the party's third elective congress ended in chaos a fortnight ago.
During the chaos, a grouping that includes Kauandenge declared themselves the legitimate leadership of the party, while the former leadership led by Mbai insist they are still in control.
Mbai suspended the supposed new leadership last week, who in turn recalled him from the National Assembly.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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